March marks the beginning of International Women’s History month, an annual declared month celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

Women have come a long way since the days when we weren’t allowed to vote and our primary role was to take care home, yet, we still have a long way to go. Still, I light up inside (and out) whenever I heard about the growth and advancement of women leaders, more specifically, women entrepreneurs. To be brave enough to capitalize on an opportunity and to risk it all in a male dominated world, is highly commendable. And as an entrepreneur myself, I can attest how it can often be a lonely journey, but when you have the right people in your corner, it can make all the difference in your success.

In celebration of women’s history month and women entrepreneurs, I decided to organize a pop up event to showcase a few magical and amazingly talented women creatives. #QueendomDC is the first of I hope of many events where we support, shop, network and celebrate sisterhood. This is for the girls who run the world and inspire to!

Ways You Can Support Women in Business

Make a Purchase: This is a no-brainer, but one of the best ways you can support an entrepreneur and the local economy is to buy what they’re selling.

Comment/Feedback: Like a product or service? Let the world know by leaving a comment on their social media account or review site (Yelp and Google).

Share/Repost: Social reach is vital to creatives starting out. By sharing their work or a recent post, you help their brand to a new fanbase….all for FREE!

Show Up: Know an entrepreneur who is having an event? Buy a ticket to their show, attend their showcase and if you can’t attend, donate your ticket. Also, encourage your family and friends to attend.

Partnerships: Forming partnerships with relevant businesses can help you gain new opportunities. When you support fellow small business owners, you can create strategic partnerships that benefit both of your companies.

How do you know when someone has hit their success mark? When they’re busy! At least that’s what society tells us. We have adopted a culture of busyness, where a full calendar hijacks our “me” time. No wonder why many of us are feeling stressed and overwhelmed, we have to keep busy being busy!

We’re busy with pilates class, girls night, hair appointments, kids practice, on our devices and just busy saying we’re busy — but what about the most important appointment…you know, the one with ourself? I know I sound like a cheesy The More You Know commercial, but as an introvert (social introvert), I can’t tell you enough, how valuable alone time is.

Okay, I get it! You’re a social butterfly, who loves multitasking and could probably plan a bachelorette party, write a book and cook up a nice steak dinner in the same hour, but, you don’t need to be an introvert to appreciate alone time. Besides, let’s face it, isn’t it a little exhausting being Super Woman 24/7? Wouldn’t a little balance help? Here are four reasons spending time alone makes your life better:

Boosts CreativityYou know how when a writer is experiencing writer’s block, it’s often suggested that they take a walk or change their environment and become alone with their thoughts? Well as the author of your life, you should definitely follow suit.

Recharge Yourself

Our brains are like computers and just like computers, we need to shut down and reboot. When you’re having a crazy ass day, the last thing you want to do is go off of emotions and release Hell’s fury. Spending time alone grants you the opportunity to recharge and face the day with a clearer head.

Improves Relationships

I’m sure you’ve had one of those days where you’re in one of your 312 moods and want to be left alone. You can’t exactly explain why, but, you know after an hour or two listening to Sade radio, writing in your journal and sipping on a glass of Pinot Noir, always seems to snap you back. It’s okay, Crabby Patty, by spending time by yourself, you’ll not only feel refreshed next time you’re around your loved ones, but you’ll gain a better understanding of who you are and what you want out of life.

Do Things Your Way

I don’t know about you, but this is my favorite part about alone time…I can do whatever the hell I want, without having to compromise. Anchovies on the entire pizza, happy hour at 5 without waiting on, and watching the entire 7 seasons of Game of Thrones and not having to keep someone else in the loop. I know it sounds a little selfish, but that’s basically what alone time is about — self!

She doesn’t settle for less than her soul deserves; she is brave and beautiful; tender and fierce; and when she sets her sights on something, she doesn’t stop dreaming until it’s true. – Mark Anthony

Growing up, my mom went to school for architecture and eventually became an architect. I witnessed firsthand as she sat at her drafting table, using crazy-looking tools like a proportional divider or architectural ruler to create designs. Sometimes it would be something simple as a landscape drawing. Other times, something more complex, like a 3D building cutout. No matter the design, it was always fascinating to know that she (and her fellow architects) was the brains behind Sure, construction has a lot to do with it, but before a building is constructed, it’s the architect’s vision that creates the blueprint for the restaurants we eat at, the houses we sleep in, and the schools we learn in.

My mom is no longer an architect, but as the new year hit, I got to thinking a lot about her old job, as it related to my goals over the years. In 2016, I launched the website; 2017 I added the shop and made my first television appearance (3 to be exact) and in 2018, I hosted my very first pop-up event and had six more events soon after. I created these goals for myself and made them to fruition. Sure, it was exhilarating, but reflecting over the last couple of years, I knew I could be more efficient and successful in 2019, with an actual blueprint.

“Why a blueprint?”, You ask? Trust me, I get it. I’m a Sagittarius; we don’t plan shit…we do everything off impulse and at the very last minute. However, as a thirty-something, single female (and kidless), entrepreneur, with a 9-5, I know as content as I am with spending time with my nieces and nephews, then dropping them off, each sell I make, and having the entire bed to myself, I can’t achieve Joanna Gaines goals by just winging it. I’m the architect of my life, and I know, just like Joe, I want a family (maybe not five kids), a big ass ranch somewhere in the boonies, while running my multiple businesses. So this will take some (more like A LOT, A LOT) brainstorming, planning, goal setting, and hard fucking work.

Think About What You Want – Put down your phone, turn off Game of Thrones and tell your friends “Another time.” I know I’m sounding like a mom right now, but remember, there’s no love like a mother’s love, so I’m telling you this for your own good. You have to dedicate time to think about what it is that you want out of this life. And because work doesn’t have to be all work, no fun, put some music on that will help you focus, pour yourself a glass of wine (don’t overdo it), whatever it takes.

Write it Down – So by now, we know you want to get that Oprah money in 2019, but how do you plan on achieving such a huge goal? By breaking the big goals down into smaller ones, that’s how. I also believe there’s great power in writing things down. So get yourself a planner or To-Do list and write down what you can do this month to work towards your dream. Maybe it might be something like, a better work-life balance or starting a blog. Then, with each week, write down what you can do within that week, like compiling a list of blog names. Lastly, take your weekly goals and spread them out over the week, so you have something to accomplish each day. By doing this, this will help you make the steps each day, to get closer to your dream.

Get an Accountability Partner – I’m fortunate enough to have sisters who are also entrepreneurs and married with kids. We link up from time to time to discuss what projects we’re working on, to vent about things that aren’t going well and throw ideas around for the future. I can’t tell you how beneficial our meetups are for each one of us. Not only are we inspired, but we have each other to put a little fire under our asses when we’re slacking. An accountability partner is essential for the growth of your vision. This person will have you keep track and sight of your goals when you’re feeling stuck, stagnant and just lazy (trust, there will be days like this). The cool thing about it is, you don’t have to meet every week, hell, you don’t have to meet at all. A simple phone call or email for a set time will suffice.

Reflect – Don’t wait until the end of the year to reflect on your goals. Do it now! Go back over your To-Do list and pat yourself on the back for everything you have accomplished, but don’t forget about the things that you still need to complete. I usually look at my list at the end of the day, and if there’s anything I wasn’t able to do that day, I roll over to the next day or when I have the time available. Sometimes when I knock out things earlier than expected, this allows more personal time or time to handle tasks from the next day. Either way, I’m able to stay on course with the initial plan.

Remember, whatever you want to do, whether it’s being a stay-at-home-mom or businesswoman, you have the power to create that life for yourself. Just takes some work. And before you go, if you haven’t purchased a planner for the present year and don’t have a to-do list, please feel free download this one. This list provides a section for daily, weekly and monthly goals.

Here’s to an overflow of love, health, happiness and prosperity in 2019.

It’s been a busy week! First, Mercury retrograde, showed up bringing a lot of its backwardness to the Earth, now the Full Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse arrives delivering major shifts and emotional gifts. No matter how unappealing the gift is, don’t reject it. Though you might not recognize the gift at the moment, you appreciate it later.

Below is a video I posted to Facebook and Instagram detailing the significance of the lunar eclipse, and what you can do to harness their vibes, including some very good self-inquiry questions.

You’ve heard of smudging with sage, but have you ever heard of Palo Santo? Palo Santo, Spanish for “holy wood”, is scared wood from the Bursera graveolens tree in South America. Just like sage, Palo Santo is used to combat negative energy and to cleanse the space, however, while sage removes ALL energy (good and bad), Palo Santo cleanses only the negative energy. Sounds pretty amazing, right?

I have to admit, I was a little late on the Palo Santo train, assuming it was just like the rest, but after doing some digging and trying it out myself, I became hooked. Here’s why:

SCENT

Palo Santo is a member of the citrus family, so when burned, it gives off an uplifting lemon scent with hints of pine and mint. So, if I want to burn it before guests come over or heading into the office, I don’t have to worry about a strong pungent smell, like sage.

USAGE

As previously stated, Palo Santo cleanses negative energy but it also preserves the good. Therefore, perfect for when you’re having a bad day, or even when you’re having an absolutely amazing day. Who doesn’t want good vibes 24/7?

CONVENIENCE

Another reason I love Palo Santo (nothing major, but still worth mentioning) is that it’s conveniently easy to carry around. It’s literally a stick of wood (magically wood, that is), so no fuss about securely wrapped when traveling.

What do you think? Are you willing to give it a try? I’m telling you, if you can handle sage, you’ll definitely love Palo Santo.

What happens when a Total Solar Eclipse coincides with Mercury in Retrograde? You get a HUGE cosmic party, that’s what! It’s been nearly a century since a Total Solar Eclipse has swiped across the United States and this Total Eclipse in particular, falls under the sign of brave, powerful and creative Leo. Not only that, this is the second consecutive New Moon in Leo, in a row. How powerful is that?

So how do we survive the Total Eclipse without letting our ego (Sun/Leo) getting the best of us? And how do we make it through analytical and anxious (Virgo), Mercury in Retrograde?

1. Trust your intuition. Your intuition will be even stronger during this time, so pay close attention and listen to your heart.

2. Fix any hiccups. This is opportunity to slow down and address any issues that may have avoided or not aware of prior to the eclipse and retrograde.

3. Make room. In order to open up for new opportunities, you have to be willing to let go of things that are no longer serving you. That includes attitudes,behaviors, habits, relationships,etc. Remember, the longer you hang on, the more challenging the change will be.

4. Set your intention. Every Solar Eclipse coincides with a New Moon. A New Moon signifies a new beginning and fresh start. So this is the perfect time to identify your goals – no matter how big or small.

Remember, both the eclipse and Mercury retrograde are times of change. The eclipse marking the ending or beginning and retrograde, is all about adjustments and revisitation. Both of which wants us to live our best life.

The end of the year is here and as I think of all the things that have transpired over the last 12 months, good and bad, the same reoccurring word pops up in my head — BRAVE. If I had to give 2016 a theme, it would be just that.

No, I didn’t go bungee jumping or skydiving over the Swiss alps. I didn’t do anything extreme with my hair (at least not this year), no globetrotting adventures across foreign lands (not yet), but I did do a couple of things this year, that even a fire-dominant girl like me, considered bold.

Mercury retrograde is near us! *cue horror music* Ah yes, the time of the year that tends to put everyone in a panic, is coming right in time for the holidays. Why, though, you might ask? What exactly does it mean? How does it affect us?

All planets go retrograde, but of all of them, Mercury seems to garner the most attention. Mercury retrograde seems to impact people more than the other planets, because it rules communication, awareness, negotiating, travelling–so when Mercury retrogrades (it slows down, and appears to stop and move backwards), everything else go backwards. The disorder Mercury creates when it retrogrades can affect what we feel, here on Earth.

This typically occurs three to four times a year, so for this year, you should keep track of the following dates: December 19, 2016 to January 8, 2017, April 9, 2017 to May 3, 2017, August 12, 2017 to September 5, 2017 and December 3, 2017 to December 22, 2017.

What happens when Mercury retrograde?

Things get misinterpreted

Contract issues

Traveling delays occur

Car repairs

Forgetfulness can be a problem

Computers go on a fritz

What should you do during Mercury retrograde?

Don’t make any important moves during this period.

Take some time and reflect and focus on your dreams and goals.

Hold off on signing any contracts, partnerships and any huge purchases.

Backup computer files.

Try not to jump to conclusions or take anything personal.

Reconnect with old friends and family.

We have about 3 1/2 weeks until Mercury goes direct, so just remember that Mercury Retrograde is not always a scary time. Sometimes things work in our favor, so use this time carefully to reflect, reconnect and to get reorganized.

I was first introduced to sage smudging about ten years ago by my mother. I was in my early twenties and going through a very bad breakup. I had invested entirely too much into the relationship, that by the end, I was emotionally and mentally depleted. I knew I was ready to move on and leave all the bad memories and emotions behind me.

My mom knew I needed a shift in energy, so she suggested sage smudging. At first, I thought it was ridiculous, how is the burning of a natural herb, going to cure me of my breakup blues? But, what Sagittarius isn’t willing to try something at least once? So my mom lit up the sage stick and we went around my room, clearing it from all the negative energy – the nights of tear soaked pillows, the heated and angry exchanges of text messages, the apology gifts. I don’t remember what exactly we said, or even how we carried out the ritual. Only thing I remember was the pungent smell, like a weed.

Recently, I’ve started posting videos and pictures on my social media and selling sage smudging kits. Since then, I have received tons of questions about the herb and the ritual, so I thought I’d go over the basics in this post.

What is sage: Sage is a plant, belonging to the mint family, popular for its culinary and medicinal uses.

What are the benefits: Sage can be used for many reasons, such as seasoning meat and/or to treating a health concern. Sage is a natural antiseptic with antibacterial properties. Ancient Egyptians used sage as a fertility drug, the Chinese used sage as a tonic for digestive issues. Native Americans burned sage to cleanse a person and/or space.

What is Sage smudging: The burning of sage aka sage smudging is one of the most common spiritual practices, used to to correct the energy in a person, space and/or object. So whether you’re moving into a new space, starting a new job, feeling stagnant, drained or negative vibes around you, sage will combat the negative energy and replenish the good and positive energy.

What items are needed to sage smudge: You simply need, sage, a heat-proof surface, matches/lighter, and a feather. You can purchase all of these items in our sage kits.

How to Sage smudge:
1. Make sure the space you’re clearing is clean.

2. Set an intention. Focus on what you’re trying to clear out.

3. Keep fans off and windows closed to minimize wind.

4. Use a heat-proof surface like a Abalone shell

5. Light the tip of the sage stick. Carefully blow out flame to allow it smolder.

6. Once you have a nice smoke going, use a feather or your hand to direct the over your body or into the spaces you want to clear.

7. When smudging your home, start at the front door, going clockwise around your house. Walking to every corner in each room, wave to the sage stick up and down the corners. Don’t forget closets, basement, garages. When smudging a person, start at the feet, and move the stick over the head.

8. When finished, you can either let the stick finish smoldering or extinguish it by gentle stubbing it against a hard surface like the Abalone shell.

How often do you sage smudge: It varies, I prefer to do it at least once a month around the new moon. However, there are times when I need to do it more often, whenever I need to clear around negative emotions or energy or when I’m buying something used.

What type of sage do you use: I use white sage, which is considered the king of all sages. It’s perfect for cleansing, divination, meditation and purification.

Where can I buy sage: Here, of course! Buy it now during our Clarity Sale and you can get a kit for 50% off, now until January 1, 2017!

Yesterday, Tuesday, July 19th, I hosted my very first Full Moon ritual. I know — I still can’t believe that I managed to get folks on a weeknight. Maybe it was the mention of wine in the invite?

Anyway, I’ve read a variety of posts on different ritual ideas and managed to create a ritual that was intimate and unique to me. I wanted to do something simple, because not only was this my first time doing a ritual, but also my guests’ first time as well; and relaxing after coming straight from work.